Clasp for necklaces and the like



Jam 30, 1951 J, MALEB 2,539,787

CLASP FOR NECKLACES AND" THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15, 19 49 JNVEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 30, 1951 CLASP FOR NECKLACES AND THE LIKE Frank Joseph Maier, Irvington, N. J., assignor to Harry 0. Schick, Inc., Newark, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application November 15, 1949, Serial No. 127,417

. 4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to improvements in clasps forreleasably connecting together the ends of necklaces and like articles.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved construction of clasp body constituting the female member of a clasp structure, said clasp body being produced from a single or onepiece blank of sheet metal adapted to be wrought into finished form, and which includes self-contained fastener means whereby its parts, when brought into body forming relation, can be firmly secured against displacement from such relation, without necessity for use of soldered joints or other independent fastening means.

Other objects of the invention will be disclosed in the following detailed description of the same. An illustrative embodiment of this-invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a clasp body made according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side"'elevational View of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp body, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse Vertical sectional View, taken on line l-4 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the male clasp member receiving end of the clasp body.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the sheet metal blank from which the novel clasp body of this invention is formed.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the novel clasp body, which constitutes the female member of a separable clasp structure, is formed from a single or one piece flat sheet metal blank illustrated in Fig. 6. This blank is shaped to provide a front face section It and a back face section II which are joined at opposed ends by an outer end Wall section I2. Integral with and extending laterally from opposite side margins of one of said face sections, preferably from the front face section II], are side wall sections I3. Extending from the free end margin of the back face section H is an inner end wall forming panel M from which extends a neck section I5; said neck section I5 terminates in a perforate coupler piece I6 extending outwardly therefrom in the plane thereof. Extending from the free end margin of the front face section IE5 is an inner end wall panel I'I; said inner end wall section terminates in fastener or clip section I8 having freely extending, lateral clinching tongues I9 projecting from the sides thereof.

In folding the blank so as to form the clasp body therefrom, the inner end wall panels I4 and H are respectively inturned to extend rightangularly to the planes of the front and back face sections it and It with which they are respectively connected, and the neck section I5, with the coupler piece it, and the fastener or clip section I8, with its clinching tongues I9, are respectively turned to extend from said inturned end wall panels I4 and I? in planes parallel to the planes of the front and back face sections I0 and II. The side wall sections I3 are also inturned to extend right angularlyto the plane of the front face section II). a

After the parts of the blank have been initially disposed in the above described positions, the back face section II is turned to extend right angularly to the outer end wall section I2, and the front wall section Ill is likewise turned to extend right angularly to the outer end wall section I2, and thus into spaced overlying relation to said back face section ll, with said outer end wall section 12 extending perpendicularly between said face sections. When the face sections Ill and II are thus superposed, the inner end wall panels I4 and I'. will meet, in aligned relation perpendicular to the face sections, and the fastener or clip section I8-will be brought into meeting overlying relation to the neck section I5. At the same time, the side wall sections I3 will also be disposed to extend perpendicularly between side marginal portions of the face sections, and so that their free edges are positioned to abut the inner surface of the back face section H at side marginal portions thereof. The parts as thus disposed will now form a hollow clasp body adapted to receive insertion therein of the male clasp member (not shown) of the clasp structure of which the clasp body forms the female member. The outer end wall section I2 is provided with a suitably shaped aperture 26 through which the male clasp member may be passed to releasably engage it with the clasp body, all in manner already well known to the art.

To secure the parts of the clasp body in the body forming relations above described, and so the self-contained fastening means, thus avoiding necessity for use of soldering or like opera- 3 tions, or use of any other form of independent fastening means.

From the above it will be understood that this invention provides a very strong and durable clasp body which can be rapidly and easily produced at low cost and low labor expenditure.

Having nowv described my invention, I claim;

1. In a clasp structure, a female member'provided by a body formed from a one-piece sheet metal blank, said body comprising a front face section and a back face sectiondisposedin superposed spaced apart relation and joinedat one end by an apertured outer end wall, saidiface-sections each having inturned inner end wallpanels meeting in aligned perpendicular extension therebetween, a neck section extending outwargb 1y from one said inner end wall panel in plane parallel to the planes of said face sections,-a clip section extending outwardly from the other inner wall'paneLto overlie the neck section'in meeting relation thereto, one .of said latter sections. having a perforate coupler member extending there.- from, and. said. clip section having. clinching tongues extending laterally from opposite-sides thereof which are bent around into, clinchedieme bracing relationto said neck section.

2; 'In alclasp structure, -a female member providedwby a "body formedfrom a one-piece sheet metalblank, said body comprising. a front face section and a back face section disposed insuperposed spaced apart relation and joined at one end by an apertured outer -end-wall,i onelof said face sections having .inturned sidewall sections perpendicular thereto with their :free ends abutting the other face section, said face sections each having inturned inner endwall panels. meeting in aligned perpendicular extension therebetween, a necksection extending outwardly from one said inner .end wall panel in plane. parallel to .the .planes .of said facesections, a clip sectionextending Ioutwardlyfrom the other inner wall panel to 'overliesaid necklsectioninrmeetingirelar tion ithereto, oneofsaid lattensections having :a perforate couplen-member extending. .therefrom, and said .clipsection havingclinchingtonguesex: tending laterally from opposite sides. thereof which, are bent, around. into. clinche dlembracing relation to said ,neckseQtioni section haying an intui ned innerlend wall panel,

said front face section also having an inturned inner end wall panel, said panels meeting in aligned perpendicular extension between said face sections, a neck section extending right angularly outward from the end wall panel of the, hack sectiWLand;terminating in a perforate coupler.membenextending outwardly therefrom inothe plane-thereof, a clip section extending right angularly outward from the end wall panel ofthe' front section in superposed relation to said neck section, and said clip section having clinching tongues extending laterally from oppositesides thereof whichare bent. around into clinched embracingrelation to said neck. section.

4. In a clasp structure, afemale member pro: vided-by a body formed froma oneepiece sheet metal blank, said body comprising a front face section and a back face section disposedin super,- posed spacedapartrelation and joined at oneend byv an apertured outer end wall, said front face section having inturned side wall sections perpendicular thereto withtheir free ends abutting the back face section, said backface section have; inganinturnedinner end wall panel, said .front face section also havingan inturned'innen end wall panel, said panels meeting in aligned perpendicular extensionbetween said facedsections, a neck section extending right angularly out wardfrom the end wall panel of .theback section and terminating in aperforate coupler member extending outwardly therefrom in the plane thereof, a clip section extending rig-ht angularly outward from the end .wall panel of thefront section in superposed .relationto said neck-sec tion, and said clip section having clinching tongues extending laterally from opposite, sides thereof which are bent around into clinched embracing relation to said necksection.

FRANK JOSEPH MAIER.

No references cited. 

